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Emphasis Preaching Journal

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Communicating God's Love

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Emphasis Preaching Journal

From Palo Alto we had... -- Jeremiah 3:21-4:2 -- Epiphany 3 | Ordinary Time 3 - B -- 1994
From Palo Alto we had driven south through great mountain ranges of California and then through some
The culture around us can... -- 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - B -- 1994
The culture around us can well be described as neo-Corinthian. The sexual wilderness is here.
These ancient prophetic words about... -- Isaiah 42:1-7 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - B -- 1994
These ancient prophetic words about a servant who establishes justice still challenge us to move fro
It's a rocky place, a... -- Genesis 28:10-17 (18-22) -- Second Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
It's a rocky place, a place along the road between more important destinations, a place where a youn
Harold Kushner tells a story... -- Genesis 22:1-18 -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 1994
Harold Kushner tells a story in his book, When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough.
It is both an honor... -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 1994
It is both an honor and challenge to serve as an ambassador, to represent a nation, an organization,
Just a few hours after... -- Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 1994
Just a few hours after midnight one night, someone, using a powerful firecracker or a small explosiv
A woman who had to... -- Job 7:1-17 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - B -- 1994
A woman who had to work long hours to support herself and her children earned barely enough to pay t
The strength of great nations... -- Micah 5:2-5a -- 1994
The strength of great nations is rallied during times of great crisis and moral controversy.
Imagine the darkest place you... -- Isaiah 9:2-7 -- The Nativity of our Lord - C -- 1994
Imagine the darkest place you have ever been.
Stephen W. Hawkins, the brilliant... -- Zephaniah 3:14-20 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
Stephen W.
The animated movie The Nightmare... -- Malachi 3:1-4 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C -- 1994
The animated movie The Nightmare Before Christmas attracted considerable attention when it first app
Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote the... -- 2 Samuel 11:1-15 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - B -- 1994
Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote the book Who Needs God? in which he makes this observation.
What is Sin? According to... -- 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - B -- 1994
What is Sin? According to John Wesley:
Now I will make your... -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 1994
"Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth."
The Song of Solomon is... -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 1994
The Song of Solomon is a love song.
The ark was a treasured... -- 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - B -- 1994
The ark was a treasured symbol in Israel. The Israelites carried it in their wilderness travels.
It was Inauguration Day, 1993... -- 1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B -- 1994
It was Inauguration Day, 1993.
To his people's puzzlement, David... -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 1994
To his people's puzzlement, David did not desire vengeance against Absalom.
A philanthropist approached an organization... -- 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B -- 1994
A philanthropist approached an organization which operated a home for a number of disabled persons a
Harriet had been a partner... -- Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- Reformation Sunday - B -- 1994
Harriet had been a partner in the Dewey, Cheatham and Howe Law Firm for three years now.
Jeremiah had become aware of... -- Jeremiah 11:18-20 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - B -- 1994
Jeremiah had become aware of a plot against his life.
John Wesley found words about... -- Proverbs 31:10-31 -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 1994
John Wesley found words about his mother Susanna written by his father Samuel.
There is a link between... -- Job 42:1-6, 10-17 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - B -- 1994
There is a link between Job 42:1-6 and the gospel lesson for today.
One California insurance company is... -- Ruth 1:1-18 -- Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B -- 1994
One California insurance company is now offering policies to cover wedding ceremonies.

Political Pulpit

Sermon

The Political Pulpit

UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For September 7, 2025:

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him…. (vv. 28-29)

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A pair of heavy gloves you might use to protect your hands when you are working or gardening.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Great! But I need to warn you that this story can be really tough to understand, so let’s see if we can figure it out.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said that we must be utterly committed to him, even to facing danger and pain, if we want to follow him. In our worship today, let us ask him for help in this formidable task.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we are scared to stand up for you.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we love other things more than you.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we are more concerned with our own image than with you.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
-- Psalm 139:1-2

Schuyler Rhodes
It would be an easy thing to read through this psalm and nod in assent before moving on to the next. It all seems pretty obvious. "Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread...." It is tantamount to what the young people refer to as a "no-brainer." Much of this bad advice could be avoided by turning off our televisions. And the sinner's well-worn walkways? They too seem fairly apparent. Yet somehow they continue to be well worn.
Paul E. Robinson
Another world, another day, another time. The bright sun cast its long dark shadows along streets filled with carts and animals, never once falling on automobile, trolley or McDonald's litter in the gutter.
Lee Ann Dunlap
What would you do if you opened your mailbox one day to find a letter from the city or county announcing that you have to move? That land your grandparents worked so hard to till, or for which you struggled so long to purchase is deemed the best land available for a new shopping mall. The appraisers will soon be checking out your home to determine its fair market value and you are expected to vacate.
Rick McCracken-Bennett
I remember as I was growing up, before gas became more precious than gold, that our family would go on buggy rides, as we called them, on Sunday afternoons after church and dinner. It was a great time for the entire family to be together, to wander back roads aimlessly, and to talk about just about anything you could imagine.
Gary L. Carver
The old man is about to retire for the evening. Closely he clutches a collection of correspondence as he replaces the worn letter he had read back into the bundle. It is the most treasured possession that he owns. As he hits his knees, he shakes his head in wonder and amazement at what God had done in his life. Only God could have taken him from where once he was to where he is now. And his prayer is one of gratitude.

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